Meet the Team

The Dolphin and Whale Connection have a large dedicated team, with some of us working in the office and others accompanying the tours as guides. We also use the services of local experts at the location to look after our guests.

The Team

Amanda Stafford

Amanda founded The Dolphin Whale Connection and has spent many years exploring her fascination with dolphins, whales and the marine environment. She has worked in the field of cetacean research and inter-species communication. She is also involved with environmental conservation and is actively involved with the WCA www.worldcetaceanalliance.org and www.whale-fest.com. We are a sponsor of whale-fest and promote many of the holidays there.

Amanda is an “eco-prenneur” keeping the vision of responsible tourism and conservation alive in the continued growth of The Dolphin & Whale Connection. Above all she has an infectious enthusiasm and passion about dolphins and whales. She believes being in their presence can inspire and empower changes in how we live a more meaningful life. “Over many years swimming and interacting with wild dolphins, I have found a relationship with life that is less and less interrupted by self-doubt and negativity. There is more and more fun, love, abundance and freedom.” There is also a deeper desire to give something back to the magnificent oceans and preserve them. She is an active partner in the WCA which campaigns against specific issues threatening cetaceans.

Malcolm Barradell

Malcolm has been part of the DC team for 10 years working in both the Azores and Egypt and spent a year working for the Espaco Talassa team as swim with dolphin and whale watching guide.
He is a trained MMO and has a degree in Coastal Zone Management and runs a marine mammal research company in Pembrokeshire Wales. He contributes expert knowledge and a deep passion for the marine life and guides the groups in a very personal and informative way ensuring the experience is enjoyable, inspiring and deeply memorable. Malcoml is also a member of the WCA ( www.worldcetaceanalliance.org )

Dylan Walker

Dylan is a highly experienced and enthusiastic whale watching guide and a knowledgeable wildlife expert. Dylan has guided whale watching tours across Europe, Latin America and North America, and has written several books on whale watching. He is also co founder of Planet Whale and WhaleFest, with colleague Ian Rowlands.

Dylan currently works as the secretariat of the World Cetacean Alliance (www.worldcetaceanalliance.org), of which the Dolphin and Whale Connection is an active Partner. The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is the world’s largest Partnership working to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises. Through cooperation, the Partners of the World Cetacean Alliance aim to conserve and protect cetaceans and their habitats in the world’s oceans, seas and rivers, to ensure their continued health and survival.

Dylan is a font of knowledge about cetaceans and their conservation, as well as being one of the most experienced whale watch guides in Europe. Trips with Dylan are always fun, not least because you can guarantee that Dylan will be just as excited about going whale watching as you are! Dylan is thrilled to be guiding tours to Iceland and the Azores in 2015. He looks forward to welcoming you onboard!

Ian Rowlands

Ian is a former journalist with a passion for wildlife, spirit, and the need to inspire millions of people to connect with nature – in particular whales and dolphins. Ian ran his own whale watching company for a decade and is co-founder of Planet Whale, the global whale watching website. Now he is the main organiser of www.Whale-fest.com, the world’s premiere whale and dolphin festival. Ian works with the Dolphin & Whale connection on an advisory level ensuring our ethics are responsible tourism and that we reach as many people as possible with the message about Ocean conservation to protect the whales and dolphins . We are one of the sponsors of whale-fest which will be held in Brighton UK in 2017, do come!!

Jon Spong

Jon is our webmaster and graphic designer and he takes care of our online presence together with some of our business marketing. He is passionate about swimming with wild dolphins and is a competent scuba and free diver. On trips with the Dolphin and Whale Connection together with his young son, they spend more time under the water than above it! He takes very little persuading to participate in any aquatic activities and if he’s not down the local swimming pool, he is found surfing on the nearest beach on the South coast of England!

Gaynor Evans

Gaynor has over 20 years experience of working within the travel industry and takes care of all the booking details. She is very helpful and makes things run very efficiently so that you receive a high level of customer service. If you have any queries when booking, she will be with you every step of the way. If you have any questions about the arrangements for your trip at anytime, just give Gaynor a call on 01273 882778 or send her an email